Atlanta’s Francophonie Festival is organized by the Atlanta Francophonie Committee, a multi-cultural collaboration between represented by the Consulates of Belgium, Canada, France, Haiti and Switzerland, the Québec Delegation in Atlanta,the American Association of Teachers of French, the Alliance Française of Atlanta, the French American Chamber of Commerce, Atlanta-Accueil and Ecole du Samedi.

Since French is one of our three national languages, watching the Cannes Film Festival movies is a good idea, especially since Belgian actors are involved or films have been co-produced by Belgian companies. The 70th festival takes place from17 til 28 May and you can stream it via Sling Television [only available to viewers in the U.S.], on TV5Monde Channel. For those who don’t know: Sling TV is like Netflix but for live television, no contracts.

The Belgian presence at the festival this year is rather meager but still,

‘Loveless‘, about a couple locked in a bitter divorce when their 12 year-old son disappears, is from Andrej Zvyagintsev and opens the Palme d’Or competition program on May 18. ‘Les Films du Fleuve‘, a Belgian company created by the famous brothers Jean-Pierre et Luc Dardenne in 1994, is co-producing the movie.

Come and listen to our compatriot Jacques Minjauw, member of the Georgia Philharmonic Orchestra, play in the concert ‘Beyond Impressionism: Debussy & Vaughan Williams‘. This concert is in collaboration with The Michael O’Neal Singers will take place on Saturday, March 25 at 7.30 pm at Lassiter High School.
You will hear impressionistic choral masterworks including Debussy’s lavish Nocturnes and Vaughan Williams’ ethereal Dona Nobis Pacem. Maestros Morrison and O’Neal share the podium to conduct 150 singers and 75 orchestra musicians.
Jacques Minjauw studied trumpet, music theory, history and transposition at the Royal Music Conservatory in Ghent, Belgium. After graduating in 1975, he was teaching music education for several years and performing with a band in Western Europe until he moved to Atlanta in 1978. In 1981 he enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences at Georgia State University where he played in the Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Band and Wind Ensemble. He studied trumpet with John Head (principal trumpet with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra at the time) and took conducting classes from Dr. Steven Winick. Since graduating from GSU with a Bachelor in Music in 1983, Jacques has enjoyed performing across the South-East with several bands, ensembles and orchestras.

Beyond the Mountains and Hills nominated for six Israeli Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and the Un Certain Regard Award at the Cannes Film Festival – directed by Eran Kolirin | First screening on Sunday, January 29, 2017 @ 7.40 pm at GTC Merchants Walk.

Dirty Wolves with Thomas Coumans, a Belgian actor who graduated from the Higher National Institute of Performing Arts in Brussels and Sam Louwyck, actor and signer born in Brugge | first screening on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 @ 12.10 pm at UA Tara Cinemas.

and based on a true story: Fanny’s Journey. Fanny’s Journey is a 2016 French-Belgian children’s war drama film co-written and directed by Lola Doillon. The film is inspired by an autobiographical book by Fanny Ben Ami, with Stéphane De Groodt, Belgian actor, César-winning actress Cécile de France and Léonie Souchaud, 13-year old French actress living in Brussels | First screening on Sunday, January 29, 2017 @ 1.45 pm at Regal Perimeter Pointe.

The world’s first online French film festival will be back from January 19 through February 19, 2018. Check their movies available in 10 different languages across different platforms accessible around the globe.

MyFrenchFilmFestival.com is an innovative concept aiming to throw the spotlight on new generation French filmmakers, allowing web users across the globe to share their enthusiasm for French cinema.

This year’s Belgian Selection:

‘Préjudice‘ (2015) – During a long-awaited family soirée Cedric challenges his relatives why they keep him from his journey. It is a drama film directed by Antoine Cuypers and co-written by Cuypers with Antoine Wauters. The film is an international co-production between Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. And you will discover our artist Arno, playing alongside Nathalie Baye.

‘The Plumber‘ (2016) – a short movie by Belgian co-director Xavier Seron. Tom Audenaert, a Flemish actor, stands in for a dubbing friend at a moment’s notice. Usually, Tom does voice work for characters in animated films. Today, he finds himself in the studio for a pornographic film in French. Catherine Salée – another Belgian actor, an experienced actress, will be his partner. Tom will play the Plumber. Jean-Benoît Ugeux, Philippe Grand’Henry, François Ebouele are additional ‘faces’ to be seen in the movie.

The 13th annual Rome International Film Festival takes play September 15-18, 2016 at Rome’s Historic DeSoto Theatre.

Narrative: In their momentum for a neo-rural life in the Belgian Ardennes countryside, Brice and Lara soon have to face the imminent construction of a holiday resort nearby. A true race against time then starts for the young couple and revolves around Brice’s quirky cousin Jacques, a native from the village, prone to mystical visions that will eventually lead them all to the Vatican!

One of our own, Soprano Francisca Vanherle Maxwell [see previous post], will be performing on Sunday November 8, 2015, at 4pm in the Julia Thompson Smith Chapel at Agnes Scott College in Decatur. You are cordially invited to Church Cantatas by Georg Philip Telemann (1681-1767) performed by the ensemble Philo Melante**, directed … by Francisca’s own sister: Sofie Vanherle, visiting from Brussels! Aaron Cain, baritone, will be the other voice.

Sofie studied at the Flemish and French Conservatoires in Brussels where she obtained First Prize diplomas for seven subjects, including piano , music history, and practical harmony. Since 2012, she is also an active researcher for “Trobador”, a research commission of the Royal Conservatoire of Brussels. The subject of her research is a collection of 150 manuscripts of sacred cantatas by G.P. Telemann that are held in the Library of the Royal Conservatoire of Brussels.
This research project called for the establishment of an ensemble that could concentrate fully on this repertoire, which led to the founding of “PhiloMelante” in October 2013. Its main purpose is to put the results of the research project into practise, and share it with a broad international audience.

Formidable resumes perfectly Stromae’s performance last night at the Buckhead Theatre. Our national maestro was in a superb shape, totally connected with his audience, respectuous of his team … As a rap/hip-hop version of a modern Jacques Brel with powerful songs based on personal experiences and realities of life, he blew us away. Our compatriot is not just a singer, a musician and a composer but a true entertainer. Inoubliable.

Shortly after being advertised, the concert was sold out with, as usual, a few tickets circulating on the black market at high price. We were all relieved to see it go through since the cancellation of Stormae’s previous concerts was alarming. His youngest fans were already queueing since mid afternoon and beATLe Mathilde was among the lucky ones to intercept Stromae for a selfie.

While all of his songs were sung in French, Stromae showed multilingual talents. He interacted with his public in English including French and even a few words in Spanish. This language-switch was masterly handled and was no bother. Simply said: he was understood.

Our star was accompanied by four musicians soberly dressed with bowler hats and bow ties. The stage was relatively simple but the background was a projection of animated visuals and shadows were playing a huge role.

Starting his concert dressed in black and white with his cardigan and bow tie, Mr. Paul changed outfits a few times during his show. Nothing extravagant. Simplicity being his forte.

Danse , t’inquiète pas tu vas danser… And we did. Starting his show with ‘Ta fête’, he immediately set the pace for a fabulous night. ‘Bâtard’ was next… je suis, j’étais et resterai moi…. followed by ‘Peace Or Violence’ forming a V with his longitudinal fingers.

As expected, he built up some suspense with his four Chapters each time interrupted by a retentissant TINTIN from his fans… Sitting at a corner of the stage, Chapter I gave him the chance to wipe the sweat off his face. During Chapter II we saw him put on pink lipstick and jewelry before starting the next Chapter during which he put on a pink and black jacket. Chapter IV was the performance itself: ‘Tous les mêmes’… rendez-vous, rendez-vous, rendez-vous sûrement aux prochaines règles… with dance moves demonstrating both feminine and masculine demeanors.

Many times he interrupted his show to refresh his face and at a certain moment, shuffling with his earpieces, he candidly stated ‘I am sweating inside my ears‘ …

We were thrilled to listen to ‘Quand c’est ?‘, his new but somber song [the clip was released on 9/14] dealing with the hardships of cancer. Stromae’s choreography, made of contorsions to get away from the disease’s shadowy reach, was gripping.

‘Papaoutai’ was frantically requested and Stromae, dressed in his summery blue and yellow outfit, as rigid as a a figure from Madame Tussaud, was carried onto the stage, by his musicians. They put him in standing position until he jumped back to life to perform insane moves.

Te quiero, Ave Cesaria, Formidable, Carmen, Humain à l’eau (Leçon n°23), Alors on danse were all included in his repertory. However, the evening was not all about singing … As a proud Belgian, he talked about the burger he ate but more importantly what was on the side: the fries, the Belgian fries. He also claimed the croissants to be Belgian and he was loudly applauded when he stated that even France comes from Belgium! But trèves de plaisanteries, de vannes pourries and he went on with Paulo qui aime les moules frites, sans frites et sans mayo.

At the end, a big merci appeared on the screen behind Stromae who thanked not only his public but everyone involved with his show, from his muscians to the security guards…. A real gentleman, appreciative of all. He had some humoristic gestures when, surrounded by his musicians, he tried to put an end to the concert imitating the flight attendants presenting the emergency exits.

The excited crowd insisted for une autre … Suddenly a microphone magically appeared. He ‘chuuuut’ the public and in perfect synchronization with his four musicians transformed into chorists, Stromae performed an astonishing a cappella version of Tous Les Mêmes. With powerful snaps of their fingers as only instrumental accompaniment the act was absolutely divine.

Loin d’être minable, tu étais formidable, Stromae!

I compiled a few clips from last night that you can watch here but it last slightly over 10 minutes.

Nothing to think about! The play Celles d’en haut (Women on top) directed by our Belgian compatriot Olivier Coyette, opens on Friday night – September 11th at 8 pm and will be followed by a Belgian Beer After Party sponsored by the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Belgium in Atlanta, hosted by Genevieve Verbeek, Consul General of Belgium, along with Georges Hoffmann, Honorary Consul General of Luxembourg.

Inspired by sources as varied as Dante’s Inferno, Mann’s The Magic Mountain and film stills by Cindy Sherman, this new play from lauded Quebecois playwright Olivier Kemeid is set in a ’50s establishment, set apart on an isolated mountaintop. Both perceptive and hilarious, the play celebrates women of all ages and the dynamics of their relationships with each other and the world around them.

In collaboration with artists from Brussels, Montreal, Atlanta and Chicago, Théâtre du Rêve and 7 Stages present this powerful work in both English and French.

Logistics

Logistics

When – September 10 (Preview in French) – September 20, 2015 at 8 pm (check other times for Sundays)

Tickets – available for both French and English performances! Our Consulate General generously offers 8 tickets first come, first served for the performance on 9/11… Contact Marie-Hélène.

Where – 7 Stages Theatre, 1105 Euclid Ave., Atlanta, GA 30307

Parking – Located in a secure, well-lit, privately run lot behind 7 Stages. The entrance to the lot is located between Ardens Garden Juice Shop and Outback Bicycles. Park-It charges a flat fee of $2 – $7 for a full day of parking, depending on the day. Also metered street parking and free street parking.